Contact Us

Miriam K. Laufer, MD, MPH
Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Dean for Student Research & Education
Director, Office of Student Research
Email: MLaufer@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Laufer is a pediatric infectious disease specialist, with a primary research interest in malaria and global child health. She has conducted research, clinical care and professional education in resource-limited countries in Africa and Asia, and has dedicated nearly two decades to working in Malawi. She and her research team use clinical and laboratory research to develop and evaluate interventions to decrease the burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. She currently serves as Principal Investigator for clinical trials, epidemiological studies and a Fogarty training grant, that support her collaboration with colleagues throughout the US, Europe and Africa.

Gregory B. Carey, PhD
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Assistant Dean for Student Research and Education
Executive Director of Student Research and Community Outreach, OSR
Director of PRISM, UM Scholars and STAR-PREP Student Research Programs
Email: GCarey@som.umaryland.edu

As the Executive Director of Student Research and Community Outreach, Dr. Carey oversees and is responsible for medical student research activities, including electives, summer and year-off activities. He oversees recruitment to and advising for the School of Medicine's summer research programs for health professional, undergraduate and high school students. In his outreach roles within the OSR and as a co-chair on the President's Outreach Council, Dr. Carey explores research, mentoring and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) educational opportunities for students at all levels and from broad backgrounds, on and off the UMB campus. In addition, Dr. Carey is the leader (P.I.) of an NIH/NCI-funded research program focused on increasing the understanding of factors that determine life and death decisions in lymphoma and in other cancers. His teaching activities cover both basic and special topics in immunology and oncology in the Graduate School and the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Carey is a member of the Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases (CVID) and of the Greenebaum Cancer Center.

Donald R. (Rick) Matteson, PhD
Associate Professor of Physiology
Assistant Dean for Student Research Education and Dual Degree Programs
Email: DMatteson@som.umaryland.edu

As the Assistant Dean for Dual Degree Programs, Dr. Matteson is responsible for developing, overseeing, and directing all of the MD/MS programs in the School of Medicine. This includes writing and updating the dual degree program descriptions and memoranda of understandings. As the Assistant Dean for Student Research Education, Dr. Matteson serves as the course director for the Foundations of Research and Critical Thinking (FRCT) course, which he developed and launched in the Fall of 2013. He is also the Course Director for GPILS 601 “Mechanisms in Biomedical Sciences” (aka, The Core Course), GPLS 600 “Cellular and Molecular Basis of Translational Research,” and the Summer Bridge Course. He serves as the Physiology Content Lead in the Preclerkship phase of the Renaissance Curriculum. In addition, he is a member of the Department of Physiology.

Fiama Romero, MS
Program Manager
Email: FRomero@som.umaryland.edu

Fiama oversees the day-to-day operations of the Office of Student Research (OSR), focusing on ways to improve operational efficiency and enhance the research support students receive. Fiama manages the FRCT course, dual degree programs, student awards and events, and summer research and training programs. She also assists with broader Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) operations management. Fiama supports Drs. Robinett, Matteson, and Carey in developing, implementing, and promoting new OSR initiatives. 

Fiama is passionate about improving access to healthcare and education, particularly among underserved communities, with a strong focus on promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Her commitment to EDI motivated Fiama to run for UMB Staff Senate, where she currently serves as senator and Communications Officer.